For Sponsors

Each year the Nantucket Project Center typically conducts a set of 5 or 6 student projects on island during B term (late October to mid-December). Project teams are composed of 3 or 4 competitively selected students of science, engineering, management and the humanities who collaborate with you and your colleagues on-site to solve a key problem for your organization after a carefully monitored period of preparation in A term (late August to mid-October). The outcome of their work is a fully documented professional report containing complete results and recommendations as well as a high quality public presentation of the highlights of their findings suitable for a broad audience. Project teams operate over a fourteen-week period. During the first seven weeks, teams work at WPI in Worcester with their faculty advisors to define the problem, conduct background research, and identify appropriate research methods to address the problem. The teams communicate regularly with you and your colleagues as necessary during this phase. The preparation period includes training in survey and interview techniques, report organization, oral presentation, and other skills required for professional project execution.

During the second half of the fourteen-week period, student teams operate full-time (40 hours/week) on site to complete their project assignment under the close scrutiny of two WPI faculty advisors. The faculty advisors meet weekly with you and the project team to review progress and future plans. The faculty advisors  coach each team in data collection, data analysis, and the presentation of findings, conclusions and recommendations. The project team concludes its effort with a public presentation of results and submission of a detailed written report and other associated deliverables appropriate for the project.

If you would like to discuss past projects, the program in general, or have an idea for a project and an interest in hosting a student team, please contact us.